Summer’s sevens series warming up

Visiting rugby squad Burnaby Lighthouse won the third annual Buccaneer 7s tournament at Bullen Park in Esquimalt on Saturday.

Burnaby Lighthouse, featuring players from the Burnaby Lake rugby club, defeated the South Seas in the final. The latter team is a mix of Velox Valhallians and Castaway Wanderers players.

The tournament is the second of three B.C. Rugby Sevens series stops in Victoria. The next tour stop is the Vancouver Rugby 7s on Saturday (June 16), while the next tourney here is the Victoria International 7s, July 13 and 14 at UVic’s Centennial Stadium.

The Victoria and Serevi Vancouver International 7s tourneys are hallmark events of the series, and will feature two of the greatest rugby sevens players: Waisale Serevi of Fiji, and the International Rugby Board’s all-time leading sevens scorer, Ben Gollings, of England.

The Esquimalt-based Buccaneer 7s festival is one of many achievements outgoing James Bay Athletic Association president Tom Woods made during his 10-year term.

The former national player also helped bring the French Barbarians to Bullen Park against Canada in 2008.

Former national player Hans de Goede, a Vic High grad and longtime Bays member, takes over for Woods.